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Start in Steam > Settings > Storage. Uninstall games you no longer play or move installations from the internal drive to a formatted microSD library. If those totals still do not explain the full drive, switch to Desktop Mode and inspect the Steam library’s shadercache and compatdata folders. Deleting or relocating those folders can recover space, but it is an advanced, community-supported workaround: data may be rebuilt or downloaded again, and a game can fail to launch if its Proton data is unavailable.
Find out what is using the space
Steam Deck storage is split between the built-in drive and any microSD card libraries. A game can be installed on one drive while generated support data remains on the other, so the number shown beside your installed games is not always the whole story. Begin with Steam’s own inventory before touching hidden files.
Open the Storage manager in Gaming Mode
- Press the Steam button and open Settings.
- Select Storage.
- Review each listed drive separately. Note which library is on the internal drive, which is on the SD card, and which installed titles are largest.
- Select an unwanted game to expose Steam’s uninstall or move controls. Work from the largest titles first, but do not remove a game until you have checked its save situation.
Valve describes this Storage page as the place to manage the Deck’s system storage and connected storage. It is safer than deleting folders because Steam knows which game files belong to each library and can reinstall or move them through its normal workflow.
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Uninstall games you are finished with
Uninstalling a large title usually returns the space occupied by its installed files immediately after Steam finishes. The game remains in your account and can be downloaded again later. This is the lowest-risk way to reclaim capacity when you do not need the title available offline.
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Check saves before uninstalling
- For a game that supports Steam Cloud, wait for synchronization to complete before removing it. Confirm the cloud status in the game’s Steam page rather than assuming every title uses cloud saves.
- If the game does not use cloud saves, identify how its local saves are protected before uninstalling. Copy important saves to another location when the game provides an export or backup option.
- Mods, screenshots, configuration files, and manually installed tools may not be restored by a normal reinstall. Preserve anything you need separately.
After uninstalling, return to Steam > Settings > Storage and verify that the internal-drive total changed. If the visible game list accounts for most of the used space, there is no reason to edit hidden directories.
Move installed games to a microSD card
Moving a game keeps it installed while transferring its main files to another Steam library. It is useful when you still play the title but the internal drive is full. The destination must be a Steam library on a card that the Deck has formatted and mounted.
Prepare the card in Steam
- Insert the card into the Deck.
- In Gaming Mode, open Steam > Settings > System > Format SD card.
- Read the warning carefully and confirm only if the card contains no files you need. Formatting erases its existing contents.
- Return to Steam > Settings > Storage. The formatted card should appear as a selectable storage location.
- When moving a game, choose the SD-card library as the destination and let Steam complete the transfer before launching it.
Valve states that Steam Deck supports any UHS-I class 3 or better microSD card. The Deck formats cards for its Linux environment as ext4 with casefolding, according to Valve’s FAQ. A reputable microSDXC card for Steam Deck is therefore the straightforward hardware expansion route; check the capacity, UHS-I rating, seller authenticity, and warranty rather than relying on a model name alone.
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| Item | What is established | Practical implication |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in storage options | Valve offered 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB Steam Deck configurations in 2022. | Usable free space is lower than the advertised capacity because the operating system and formatting consume part of the drive. |
| Expansion limit cited by Valve | Up to 2TB of additional microSD storage was stated by Valve in 2022. | Actual card availability, authenticity, and pricing vary by region and date. |
| Interface requirement | UHS-I, class 3 or better microSD cards are supported. | A faster-looking label does not change the Deck’s UHS-I interface limit. |
| File system after Deck formatting | ext4 with casefolding. | The card is prepared for Steam Deck use; a card formatted for another device may need to be erased and reformatted. |
Remember the card is part of the installation
A game moved to the SD card is not portable in the same way as a USB document. Keep the card inserted when you want to play those titles. Removing it can make the library and its files unavailable until the card is reinserted. If the card is damaged or not mounted, Steam may show the games as uninstalled even though the data still exists on the card.
When the Storage page does not explain the missing space
If the internal drive is nearly full but the installed-game totals are much smaller, inspect the drive in Desktop Mode. Use a disk-usage view or the file manager’s folder-size information to find unusually large directories. Enable hidden-file viewing if necessary, and inspect the Steam library folders rather than deleting arbitrary system files.
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Where generated Steam data appears
Within a Steam library’s steamapps area, two directories commonly account for unexplained growth:
| Directory | What it contains | Why it can grow |
|---|---|---|
shadercache |
Compiled shader data used to reduce graphics stutter and avoid compiling the same shaders repeatedly. | Different games and updates can add generated files. Data can remain after a game is moved or uninstalled, depending on what Steam removed. |
compatdata |
Per-game Proton prefixes: Windows-like folders that store prefixes, settings, and supporting data for Linux compatibility. | Each game can accumulate a separate prefix. A prefix may remain after the main installation changes and can be substantial for games that install launchers or other components. |
These directories are not interchangeable copies of the game itself. Removing one does not remove the main installation, but it can remove data the game expects on its next launch. A shader cache may be rebuilt; a Proton prefix may be recreated or require additional downloads, and a title may lose custom settings.
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Manual cleanup is optional troubleshooting, not Valve’s first-line storage workflow. Community instructions also describe moving these directories to an SD card and creating links back to the original location. Such links make the game dependent on that card and add another failure point, so use them only if ordinary uninstalling or moving cannot solve the problem.
Safer sequence for a cache or prefix cleanup
- Switch to Desktop Mode and close every running game.
- Exit Steam completely, not merely the current game. A file that Steam is using should not be moved or deleted.
- Use a disk-usage tool to identify the specific game’s directory. Do not delete the entire
shadercacheorcompatdatadirectory just because it is large. - Back up the folder to another drive or a clearly named temporary directory. Keep the backup until the game has launched successfully and rebuilt any required data.
- Delete or move one identified folder at a time, then empty the Desktop Mode trash if you need the space immediately.
- Restart Steam, launch the affected game with its library drive available, and allow time for shader compilation or other downloads.
- If the game fails, restore the backup first. If that is not possible, use Steam’s file-verification or reinstall process rather than deleting additional directories at random.
What can go wrong
- Longer first launch: a deleted shader cache can be rebuilt, so the first run may compile shaders again.
- New downloads: a compatibility prefix or cache can be regenerated or downloaded, reducing the apparent savings.
- Launch failure: a game may rely on files in its prefix. If the prefix was moved to an SD card, the card must be mounted for the game to start.
- Lost settings: controller mappings, launcher logins, or per-game tweaks stored in the prefix may disappear unless backed up.
Because these outcomes vary by game and Proton configuration, there is no universally safe “delete all cache” button. Treat each cleanup as a reversible experiment and keep the official Steam controls as your recovery path.
Plan the cleanup before deleting anything
Make a short list of games that are safe to remove, games that should stay available, and data that cannot easily be replaced. Start with a title you have finished or one that has a confirmed cloud save. That gives you a measurable space recovery without risking the prefix of a game you are actively troubleshooting.
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Do not judge a card or drive only by its advertised capacity. Steam Deck models were sold with 64GB, 256GB, or 512GB of built-in storage, but the operating system and its filesystem use part of that space. Leave room for game updates and temporary files instead of filling a drive to its last few megabytes. If an update fails because there is no working room, moving one large title first is usually simpler than trying to clean several hidden directories at once.
Buying and checking a replacement microSD card
- Capacity: choose enough room for the games you actually intend to keep installed. Valve stated support for up to 2TB of additional microSD storage in 2022, but available capacities and prices change.
- Compatibility: look for a genuine UHS-I, class 3 or better microSD card. The Deck’s supported interface matters more than a package claiming a higher theoretical speed.
- Seller and warranty: buy from a reputable seller, check the return policy, and keep proof of purchase. Counterfeit cards can report a large capacity while losing data when filled.
- Formatting: back up anything on the card before using Format SD card; the Deck prepares it as ext4 with casefolding and erases existing contents.
A card is a capacity solution, not a substitute for backups. Keep irreplaceable saves and personal files elsewhere, and do not rely on a card that intermittently disappears from Steam. Repeated mount failures are a reason to stop moving games and investigate the card before its library becomes your only copy.
Choose the least risky option that solves the problem
| Approach | Space recovered | Reversibility | Risk to launching games | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uninstall an unused game in Steam | Usually the full installed-game footprint. | High; reinstall through Steam. | Low. | None, aside from a later download. |
| Move a game to a formatted microSD library | Most of that game’s main files leave the internal drive. | High; move it back or reinstall. | Low when the card is present and healthy. | Requires a compatible card. |
| Delete an identified shader cache | Only the generated cache for the selected game. | Moderate; the cache can be rebuilt. | Usually limited to rebuilding time, but behavior varies. | None. |
Delete an identified Proton compatdata folder |
The selected game’s prefix and its contents. | Lower; settings and compatibility data may be lost. | Higher; the game may need a new prefix or downloads. | None. |
| Move and link cache or prefix folders to SD | Potentially a large amount of internal space. | Low; undoing links requires careful filesystem work. | Highest; the card and link must remain available. | Requires a compatible card and maintenance. |
Troubleshoot the common storage situations
The SD card is not listed
Confirm that the card is inserted fully, then check Steam > Settings > System > Format SD card. A card that has not been formatted by the Deck may not be available as a Steam library. Formatting erases the card, so copy anything important elsewhere first. If the card repeatedly disappears, stop moving games to it and investigate the card’s authenticity, physical condition, and warranty.
A moved game appears uninstalled
First make sure the SD card is inserted and mounted. Open Steam > Settings > Storage and see whether the card library is present. Do not start a new installation until Steam has recognized the original library; otherwise you may create duplicate files.
The internal drive is still full after moving games
Return to the Storage totals and compare them with a Desktop Mode disk-usage view. If the main game files moved but the internal drive remains large, inspect the identified shadercache and compatdata directories. Remove only folders you can associate with games you no longer need, and keep backups for prefixes.
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Space was freed but the number has not changed
Allow Steam to finish the operation, restart Steam, and recheck the Storage page. In Desktop Mode, empty the trash after a manual move or deletion. If the total still looks wrong, use a disk-usage tool to locate the remaining large directory instead of repeating the same deletion.
A game will not launch after cleanup
Put the SD card containing the game’s library and any linked data back in the Deck. If you backed up a cache or prefix, restore it with Steam closed and try again. Otherwise use Steam’s file-verification option; if that does not recreate the required compatibility data, reinstall the game. Avoid deleting more folders while diagnosing the failure.
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- Check Steam > Settings > Storage after installing a large title so you know which drive received it.
- Reserve the internal drive for games that benefit from guaranteed availability, and put less frequently played large titles on the SD card.
- Leave enough free space for updates and generated data; a game can need temporary room even when its installed size fits.
- Use Steam’s move and uninstall controls as routine maintenance. Consider Desktop Mode inspection only when those controls do not explain the usage.
- Do not format a card, delete a prefix, or create a filesystem link without a backup of files you cannot replace.
The practical decision
If you simply installed more games than the internal drive can hold, uninstall the titles you have finished or move the keepers to a formatted UHS-I class 3-or-better microSD card. If Steam’s Storage page still leaves a large unexplained gap, investigate the specific shadercache and compatdata folders in Desktop Mode. Manual cleanup can help, but it trades a little extra space for rebuilds, possible downloads, and a greater chance of launch problems; use it only with a backup and a clear recovery plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Steam Deck internal storage full when the games are on the SD card?
Steam can keep generated shader-cache files or Proton compatdata on the internal drive even when a game’s main files are on a microSD library. Open Steam’s Storage page first, then use Desktop Mode disk-usage information to identify the specific folders consuming space.
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Can I delete the entire shadercache folder?
Treat that as an advanced step rather than routine maintenance. Identify the cache for a specific game, close Steam, and keep a backup. Deleted shader data can be rebuilt, which may make the next launch slower and can require additional processing or downloads.
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Can I delete compatdata?
A compatdata directory is a game’s Proton prefix, not merely disposable cache. Deleting it can remove launcher logins, settings, and compatibility files; the game may recreate the prefix or download data, and it may not launch until that process finishes. Back it up first.
Will uninstalling a Steam Deck game delete my save?
Steam Cloud may preserve saves for supported games, but not every title uses it. Confirm synchronization before uninstalling and separately protect local saves, mods, screenshots, configuration files, and tools that a reinstall may not restore.
What microSD card works with Steam Deck?
Valve says any UHS-I class 3 or better microSD card is supported. Buy from a reputable seller, verify the capacity and warranty, and format the card through Steam. The Deck formats it as ext4 with casefolding.
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Valve stated support for up to 2TB of additional microSD storage in 2022. Actual cards, prices, and availability vary, so verify the current listing and seller rather than relying on an old capacity claim.
Why does Steam show a game as uninstalled after I moved it?
Make sure the microSD card is inserted and mounted, then check Steam’s Storage page for the card library. Do not begin a second installation until Steam recognizes the original library, or you may create duplicate files.
What should I do if a game stops launching after cleanup?
Reconnect the card containing the game and any linked data. Restore your backup with Steam closed, then try again. If no backup exists, use Steam’s file-verification option or reinstall the game instead of deleting more directories.
The Bottom Line
Use Steam > Settings > Storage first: uninstall finished games or move current ones to a properly formatted, genuine UHS-I class 3-or-better microSD card. Only inspect shadercache and compatdata in Desktop Mode when the visible totals do not explain the missing space, and make any manual cleanup reversible with a backup.
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